As Eichi stepped onto the field, countless gazes fixed upon him. From the second-year seating area, Yuli watched him and whispered silently to herself, Eichi, we're counting on you.
Despite the weight of everyone's expectations, Eichi remained calm, looking toward his opponent, Asen, with a tranquil expression. Deep down, however, he felt a spark of excitement. He knew that Asen was wearing a human-skin mask; on the surface, he was an ordinary-looking youth, but beneath that exterior lay a cold and sharp-looking boy.
Eichi had vague suspicions about Asen's true identity. Consequently, he believed Asen's strength was by no means weak and might even provide him with a pleasant surprise.
The two stood on the battlefield in silence. Asen felt that the way the guy opposite him looked at him was quite uncomfortable, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why.
Once the referee saw that both were ready, he announced, "Please release your Pokémon."
Eichi and Asen's eyes sharpened as they pulled out their Poké Balls, causing the hearts of the spectators to leap into their throats.
"Go, Nidoking!"
"Go, Heracross!"
Two Poké Balls were hurled into the air and snapped open. In a burst of white light, two massive Pokémon materialized on the field. Standing before Asen was a large, purple, bipedal Pokémon. It had no spots on its body, and its most prominent feature was the large, sharp horn atop its head.
It was a Nidoking. Eichi, meanwhile, sent out Heracross. Both were power-oriented Pokémon. Eichi activated his Eye of the Bug Emperor to observe the opponent.
Nidoking, the Drill Pokémon.
Types: Poison / Ground
Abilities: Poison Point / Rivalry (Standard), Sheer Force (Hidden)
Talent Grade: Excellent
Trainer Rank: Experienced Peak
Description: A large, bipedal, purple Pokémon with a powerful tail and a horn that contains potent venom. It is known for its incredible physical strength and destructive capabilities.
Overall, it was on par with Heracross, but Eichi knew only a battle would reveal who was truly stronger. Upon appearing, Nidoking unleashed a powerful aura, staring at Heracross with a gaze full of fighting spirit.
"Yakkuru!"
Heracross discarded its usual laziness and casual demeanor, meeting Nidoking's gaze with a serious expression. The atmosphere grew tense as Heracross took its combat stance.
"Battle begin!"
At the command, both trainers issued orders simultaneously.
"Nidoking, charge in! Use Horn Attack!"
Nidoking let out a roar toward the sky, lowered its head slightly, and charged toward Heracross with heavy, rhythmic steps.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Seeing Nidoking rush forward, Eichi also delivered his command.
"Heracross, use Arm Thrust!"
"Yakkuru!"
Heracross also charged, and the two Pokémon met in the center of the field.
Slap!
Heracross caught Nidoking's single horn, preventing the attack from landing. Realizing its horn was held, Nidoking immediately tried to push Heracross away with its hands. Heracross let go of the horn and locked palms with Nidoking, firmly gripping the Drill Pokémon's wrists.
Nidoking retaliated with the same maneuver. Its face became contorted and fierce, making its already menacing appearance look even more terrifying. Heracross looked much the same as the two Pokémon began a contest of raw strength.
Eichi watched the two struggle from his position. Their strength was roughly equal, and it wouldn't be easy to determine a victor through power alone. Deciding that this stalemate wasn't working, Eichi was about to order a retreat when Asen acted first.
"Nidoking, Flamethrower!"
Eichi's eyes widened. Not good! Nidoking began gathering energy in its mouth. Heracross tried to back away, but its hands were trapped by Nidoking's grip. A pillar of fire erupted from Nidoking's maw. At the moment of release, Nidoking let go of Heracross's wrists.
The massive pillar of flames slammed into Heracross, the sheer power of the impact forcing it backward.
"Yakkuru!"
Heracross was knocked back by the force of the fire. Despite being hit, it reacted quickly. It buzzed its wings and took to the sky as the stray pillar of fire shot into the distance and vanished. Flying in the air, Heracross winced; a large portion of its body had been scorched, and the pain was evident.
Seeing this, the corner of Asen's mouth curled up slightly as he continued his assault.
"Thunderbolt! Knock it out of the sky!"
Nidoking flashed a cruel smile. Currents of electricity began surging across its body, gathering at its horn before being discharged toward Heracross.
Zzzzt!
Several bolts of lightning streaked toward the airborne Heracross. The area of effect was so wide that escape seemed difficult. However, Heracross didn't panic and instead looked for a gap to evade.
"Heracross, use Pin Missile!"
Heracross dodged the incoming lightning with practiced ease, flying further away. It channeled its energy, its eyes glowing with a cyan light. Countless needles of light manifested in mid-air and shot downward at a speed that surpassed normal imagination.
Nidoking didn't have time to use another move and could only cross its arms to protect its head.
Bang! Bang!
Innumerable needles of light slammed into Nidoking. While the individual power wasn't immense, the sheer volume was overwhelming. While some needles hit the mark, others struck the rocky ground, shattering the stone and kicking up a thick cloud of dust. The dust soon enveloped a large area, obscuring everyone's vision. Heracross vanished into the haze.
Even so, Asen remained expressionless, his demeanor unchanged from the start. Although Nidoking's vision was blocked, the same applied to Heracross. However, Heracross had a general idea of Nidoking's location.
"Heracross, keep using Pin Missile!"
From within the dust cloud, Heracross aimed at a specific spot and continuously fired light needles. As the needles struck Nidoking and the ground, the dust cloud grew even thicker.
"Nidoking, move from that spot and use Blizzard!"
Nidoking gritted its teeth, enduring the rain of needles as it shifted its position.
"Heracross, use Megahorn in Nidoking's direction!"
Heracross heard the sound of Nidoking's footsteps, which gave away its position. It buzzed its wings and dove toward Nidoking's location. Just as it dove, a sudden cold wind swept through. In the blink of an eye, the dust was blown away by the gale, exposing Heracross's figure.
Asen's observation skills were exceptional; the moment the dust cleared, he spotted Heracross.
"Nidoking, use Stone Edge directly above you!"
Nidoking stomped heavily on the ground, sending countless shards of rock upward. An invisible force seemed to sharpen these rocks as they were launched. Heracross gained speed, its large horn glowing with massive energy, but it met resistance midway—a biting, icy blast of wind.